by Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY Sports

by Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY Sports

NEW YORK - NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said the league was entering a "renaissance" phase, pointing at high ratings and the four playoff teams providing entertaining showdowns at a news conference before the 2014 NBA draft lottery Tuesday night.

"The state of the game is fantastic," Silver said. "The best years are ahead of us."

Yet almost all of the questions asked in a news conference prior to the commissioner's first draft lottery circled back to the man who has dominated headlines for the past month.

Donald Sterling, the banned Los Angeles Clippers owner.

"It's hard for me to put into words," Silver said. "Especially coming off the best playoffs in recent memories."

Silver said the overshadowing of Sterling made him think of Kevin Durant's MVP speech.

"Kevin Durant, as our most valuable player, is what this league is all about," Silver said. "Quite frankly, Mr. Sterling is not."

Silver answered several questions related to the future of the Los Angeles Clippers and the court proceedings of the team's ownership following Sterling's lifetime ban that came as the result of a racist audio recording that enraged the league's players, coaches and community.

"Mr. Sterling still owns the Los Angeles Clippers," Silver explained. "I know we're doing the right thing here. ... This is an unprecedented seeding. This will all get worked out."